I agree that it's not a great PR move for any library, however, part of being a responsible citizen is knowing that when you 'borrow' something, you must return it. It is disrespectful to the library and to the other patrons. Imagine if everyone behaved that way-- there wouldn't be anything left in the building! This smug attitude of "I can get away with it" deserved its punishment. On Mon, Mar 15, 2010 at 8:40 AM, Mary Hanson <[log in to unmask]>wrote: > Years ago when I worked for a county library system, deputies would be sent > to collect your overdue books. I remember one instance where the patron had > moved to the far side of the state, so the sheriff in our county arranged > for deputies from that county to get the books. The books were then > transferred across the states by various deputies meeting at each county > line. The guys (there were no women in those days) thought it was > wonderfully amusing to show up on someone's doorstep and announce they were > there "for the library books". We rescued lots of materials that way--some > that had been overdue to 10 years or more. > > > > Mary A. Hanson, M.S.L. > Saint Mary's Health Sciences Library > 200 Jefferson SE > Grand Rapids, MI 49503 > > > voice: 616-685-6260 > fax: 616-685-6419 > > >>> Susan Fowler <[log in to unmask]> 03/15/2010 11:32 AM >>> > I see how this is an amusing story. I remember being very frustrated > whenever I would discover expensive library materials had grown legs and > walked. But I think the policy described in the story is extreme leading to > an unfortunate incident that encourages a negative and intimidating view of > libraries and librarians. I am chronically irresponsible about library > materials. Were I a library patron in that community I would cease going to > the library and just buy my books - far better to spend a little money then > risk going to jail. I don't think this is an attitude libraries can afford > to foster and has a much larger price tag then 8K. > > -- > Susan Fowler, MLIS > > [log in to unmask] > > > > On Mon, Mar 15, 2010 at 9:55 AM, Tylman, Vislava <[log in to unmask]> wrote: > > > The main point of the story is the user. We (university, hospital, > > institutional libraries) usually know our users and/or have established > > ways of communicating with our users. If it comes to lost/not returned > > materials, we have rules to follow to recover the loss, except of course > > walk-aways. Public libraries have many users like the two presented in > the > > description - they don't care, don't remember, move to other place, > ignore > > reminders, give to friends and think that's perfectly OK, it's just a > book, > > CD, not big deal. > > For public libraries legal action is probably the only way to follow to > > recover some of the lost materials. And for library users who think that > not > > returning library materials is OK - it was a good lesson. > > The only problem I can see - the handcuffs. I think that the police > should > > use other methods for catching somebody stealing library materials and > keep > > handcuffs for bank robbers etc. > > > > Vislava > > > > Vislava Tylman > > Goldblatt Medical Library > > 2950 Cleveland Clinic Blvd. > > Weston, FL 33331 > > > > > > > > -----Original Message----- > > From: Medical Libraries Discussion List [mailto:[log in to unmask]] > On > > Behalf Of Vonville, Helena M > > Sent: Monday, March 15, 2010 10:10 AM > > To: [log in to unmask] > > Subject: Re: Don't shoot, I'll return it > > > > Hmmmm, nearly $8,000 worth of materials lost in one year due to items not > > being returned according to this story. > > > > I can't count the number of times I've seen people on this list express > > their frustration over books checked out (or "borrowed" when the > librarian > > is out) and never returned. The threshold for legal action is a bit > low-- > > $30-- but $8K is a lot of money to spend on buying something you've > already > > paid for. > > > > Helena > > > > Helena M. VonVille, MLS, MPH > > Library Director > > University of Texas School of Public Health Library Houston, TX 77030 > > [log in to unmask] > > 713.500.9131 (office) > > 713.500.9125 (fax) > > > > -----Original Message----- > > From: Medical Libraries Discussion List [mailto:[log in to unmask]] > On > > Behalf Of Emily Eresuma > > Sent: Friday, March 12, 2010 4:03 PM > > To: [log in to unmask] > > Subject: Re: Don't shoot, I'll return it > > > > That is extreme! > > > > Emily > > > > Emily Eresuma, MLS > > Senior Medical Librarian > > Primary Children's Medical Center > > 100 North Mario Capecchi Drive > > Salt Lake City, Utah 84113-1100 > > [log in to unmask] > > > > 801-662-1391 > > 801-662-1393 (fax) > > > > > > -----Original Message----- > > From: Medical Libraries Discussion List [mailto:[log in to unmask]] > On > > Behalf Of Jones, Cason > > Sent: Friday, March 12, 2010 2:53 PM > > To: [log in to unmask] > > Subject: Don't shoot, I'll return it > > > > > > > http://abcnews.go.com/WN/arrested-cuffed-overdue-library-books/story?id=10062565&partner=yahoo > > > > ======================================================= > > The information contained in this message may be privileged and/or > > confidential and protected from disclosure. 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